Programmable irrigation controller having user interface

Abstract

An irrigation controller, includes a housing, a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store and execute an irrigation schedule, a valve driver coupled to the microcontroller and configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller, and a user interface. The user interface includes a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to create an irrigation schedule; and a user display coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display irrigation parameters associated with the irrigation schedule. The microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display at least one of a next irrigation start day, a next irrigation start time, and a next zone to irrigate associated with the irrigation schedule.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An irrigation controller, comprising:
 a housing;   a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store system variables and execute an irrigation schedule based upon values of at least a portion of the system variables;   a valve driver coupled to the microcontroller and configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller; and   a user interface integrated with the housing and comprising:
 a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to view the system variables; and 
 a user display within the housing and coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display values of at least a portion of the system variables, the user display comprising a color display screen, wherein 
 the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display different system variables in different colors. 
   
     
     
         2 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to graphically display the different system variables in the different colors. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigation controller of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display different system variables together. 
     
     
         4 . An irrigation controller, comprising:
 a housing;   a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store system variables and execute an irrigation schedule based upon values of at least a portion of the system variables;   a valve driver coupled to the microcontroller and configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller; and   a user interface integrated with the housing and comprising:
 a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to view the system variables; and 
 a user display within the housing and coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display values of at least a portion of the system variables, the user display comprising a color display screen, wherein 
 the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display different values of a system variable in different colors. 
   
     
     
         5 . The irrigation controller of  claim 4 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to graphically display values of a system variable. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigation controller of  claim 4 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display different values of a system variable together. 
     
     
         7 . An irrigation controller, comprising:
 a housing;   a microcontroller within the housing and configured to store system variables and execute irrigation schedules based upon values of at least a portion of the system variables;   a plurality of valve drivers coupled to the microcontroller, each configured to output a zone activation signal to an actuatable zone valve in response to signaling from the microcontroller; and   a user interface integrated with the housing and comprising:
 a plurality of user input devices coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide signaling to the microcontroller based upon a user's engagement therewith, the plurality of user input devices configured to allow the user to view the system variables; and 
 a user display within the housing and coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display values of at least a portion of the system variables, the user display comprising a color display screen, wherein 
 the microcontroller is configured to cause the user display to display system variables associated with different irrigation schedules or different irrigation programs in different colors.